Jack Thomas (academic)

Jack Thomas
11th President of Western Illinois University
In office 2011–2019
Preceded by	Alvin Goldfarb
Succeeded by	Martin Abraham (interim)
Personal details
Spouse	Linda
Children	2
Alma mater	Alabama A&M University (BA) Virginia State University (MEd) Indiana University of Pennsylvania (PhD)

Jack Thomas is an American academic administrator who served as the president of the Central State University from 2020 to 2023. Previously, he served as the 11th President of Western Illinois University from 2011 to 2019. He was the first Black President of Western Illinois University.

Early life and education

Thomas was born in the U.S. He earned a B.A. in English from Alabama A&M University in 1983, a M.Ed. in English Education from Virginia State University in 1984, and a Ph.D. in English Literature and Criticism from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1990.

Career

Prior to his appointment as president of Western Illinois University, Thomas held the post of provost and academic vice president at WIU, beginning in 2008. Before joining WIU, he held the positions of senior vice provost for academic affairs and interim dean at Middle Tennessee State University, as well as academic posts at University of Maryland Eastern Shore and South Carolina State University.

On June 14, 2019, he announced that he would be resigning from his position as president, effective June 30. Upon Thomas's resignation, incoming provost Martin Abraham succeeded him as the university's acting president while the Board of Trustees conducted a national search for a new president.

In July 2020, Thomas became president of Central State University, Ohio's only public historically Black university, amid the COVID-19 campus shutdowns. His tenure saw the implementation of a strategic plan and a $75 million expansion of the campus, which involved the construction of seven new buildings. He stepped down from his role in May 2023.

Personal life

Thomas and his wife, Linda, have two sons, Patrick and Darius.